Thousands flock to Jewish County Fair

Families, couples and singles relaxed on hay bales, danced to feel-good tunes and tried their hands at a hatchet toss during the first Jewish County Fair, which brought Southern California’s diverse Jewish community together for a day of food, fun and unity in Malibu on Oct. 3.

The fair, modeled on food-centric celebrations that honor those who till the land, drew about 3,000 people to the Shalom Institute (home to Camp JCA Shalom), according to Bill Kaplan, the institute’s executive director and the event’s co-producer.

“I’ve been to a lot of fairs and I think this is about as good as it gets,” said Orange County resident Sonja Lind, who let a corn snake slither around her neck during a live reptile demonstration. “Really kind of a nice, old-fashioned feel to it.”

Activities for kids ruled the day, including bungee jumping on a trampoline, a rock-climbing wall and a ropes course.

“You had to climb up and you had to go across in the air, and you are being held on by a rope,” said Valley Beth Shalom fourth-grader Jonathan Abrams, describing the ropes course as he waited in line for the Takosher taco truck with his father, Bob.

Westwood resident Nancy Kreitenberg noted that the fair was “geared toward younger kids,” but her husband, Ernie, said their daughter still had a good time.

“Our 9-year-old is jumping around in the moon bounce,” he said. “So that’s a good sign.”

Past the booths and concert area, where Moshav and Soul Aviv performed, a dark-haired woman in circus-style dress strutted around on stilts. And Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, wearing overalls and a straw hat, worked the Jewlicious tent, where adults could get beer and wine.

The promise of so many activities inspired Jill Kasofsky to drive from Mount Washington.

“There aren’t that many big events like this,” she said. “I thought it would be interesting to see what’s out here.”

Julia Lytton and Jaclyn Ferber, 20-something college graduates, said they enjoyed the fair’s variety.

“We’ve been listening to music, eating, going to booths, hanging out and talking to people I haven’t seen in years,” said Lytton, who lives in the San Fernando Valley and works at an occupational therapy clinic.

Ferber, a former UC Davis student, said she came to the fair seeking Jewish connections. “I’ve been trying to find the Jewish community in L.A. since I moved back here,” she said.

Toward the end of the day, musician Craig Taubman, who co-produced the event with Kaplan, reflected on the end result.

“I’m thrilled, I’m ecstatic,” he said. “I’m appreciative to lots of people in the Jewish community who made this happen.”